Author: Benedict Mcdaniel

MINI USA has introduced the MINI ChargeForward program, a smart-charging initiative that provides financial incentives to electric vehicle (EV) owners for optimizing charging times. The program is designed to reduce carbon emissions and support a more efficient energy grid by drawing power when renewable energy is most available. Fully integrated into the MINI App, the program allows customers to set departure times and automatically optimize charging schedules using utility and grid carbon signals. Participants can earn financial rewards for enrolling in both local utility and National Carbon Dividend programs, while ensuring their vehicles are charged and ready when needed. The…

Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has introduced a straddle carrier powered by a hydrogen fuel cell at its Container Terminal Tollerort, expanding efforts to test zero-emission technology in heavy port operations. The vehicle, developed by Finnish manufacturer Konecranes, is part of the Clean Port & Logistics (CPL) innovation cluster, which is trialing alternative drives for container transport. It follows two hybrid straddle carriers delivered by Konecranes to Hamburg in 2019. The new carrier mirrors that design but operates on hydrogen fuel cells, with the option to convert to hybrid or fully battery-electric systems. See also: Clean Energy Fuels to…

The Croatian government will invest €21 million in electric bus charging facilities in Zagreb, as part of a €27.4 million initiative to support the capital’s shift to low-emission transport. The funds will be allocated under the country’s national recovery and resilience plan. The investment will be directed to Zagrebački Električni Tramvaj (ZET), the city’s public transport operator, to install 62 double chargers with a total of 124 charging bays at the Podsused bus depot. The project will also cover installation, construction, testing and the integration of smart charging modules to optimize energy use. Completion is scheduled for June 2026. The…

Bosch said it will eliminate a further 13,000 jobs worldwide, adding to the 9,000 cuts already announced, as the world’s largest automotive supplier steps up efforts to reduce costs and adapt to the shift toward electric mobility. The company, headquartered near Stuttgart, confirmed the plans after German business daily Handelsblatt first reported them. The Power Solutions and Electrified Motion divisions will be most affected, with sites in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, Schwieberdingen, Waiblingen, Bühl and Homburg facing reductions. Together with earlier cuts, about 22,000 positions will be shed by 2030. Bosch’s Mobility division employs around 70,000 people in Germany. The group aims to…

Hyundai Motor on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious “2030 Vision” strategy at its investor event, laying out a broad product roadmap that spans pickups, high-performance vehicles, hybrids, and range-extended electric vehicles (EVs). The plan underscores the automaker’s bet on electrification and diversification as it targets global sales of 5.55 million vehicles by the end of the decade. In North America, Hyundai will enter the lucrative mid-size pickup market by 2030 with its first body-on-frame truck, positioning it against rivals such as General Motors’ Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, Ford Motor’s Ranger, Toyota’s Tacoma, Nissan’s Frontier, and Stellantis’ upcoming Ram Dakota. Hyundai…

Scania, the Swedish subsidiary of Volkswagen’s Traton Group, has unveiled a new plug-in hybrid powertrain for buses and coaches, expanding its ‘Scania Super’ platform beyond trucks. The move offers operators an alternative to fully electric buses, which remain more expensive than diesel models and less suited to long-distance travel. The Scania Super is a 13-litre engine with output between 343 kW and 418 kW, now available in both combustion and plug-in hybrid configurations for passenger transport. The PHEV version integrates a 290 kW electric motor with a six-speed powershift transmission and provides up to 80 kilometres of electric-only driving. Scania…

Lucid has launched a new software update for its Gravity SUV, adding towing functions and system improvements while giving some buyers early access to features still under development. The over-the-air Gravity UX 3.3 update introduces Integrated Trailer Brake Control, Hitch View, and a Trailer Light Check. Hitch View allows drivers to monitor the trailer hitch on the vehicle’s screen, while the light check feature cycles through trailer lights to confirm they are functioning, accessible via Lucid’s mobile app. Lucid is also allowing Gravity drivers to test two security features, Live View and Drive Recorder, as part of its Halo Secure…

Farasis Energy, backed by Mercedes-Benz, disclosed new details about its solid-state battery program, confirming progress toward pilot production and small-batch deliveries for strategic partners, according to a company filing and reports by IT-Home. During an investor relations meeting on September 15, Farasis said it is accelerating research, pilot production, and industrialisation of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. The company’s first-generation solid-state cells, combining high-nickel ternary cathodes with high-silicon anodes, have moved beyond laboratory testing and are entering pilot production. Construction of a 0.2 GWh pilot line is underway, with initial product delivery planned by the end of 2025. The cells are designed…

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Tuesday it has opened an investigation into about 174,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles from the 2021 model year after reports that their electronic door handles can fail, leaving occupants trapped inside. The automotive regulator said it has received nine reports of parents being locked out of their vehicles when attempting to place or retrieve children from the back seat. “The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received nine Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting an inability to open doors on Model Year (MY) 2021 Tesla Model Y vehicles,” NHTSA said. “The…

Nio has begun shipping its third-generation ES8 electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to delivery centers in China ahead of the model’s official launch scheduled for September 20, the company said. The new ES8, Nio’s flagship SUV, will start customer deliveries immediately following the sales launch. The entry-level version is priced at 308,800 yuan (43,340 USD) when purchased with the Battery-as-a-Service option. Full pricing ranges from 416,800 to 456,000 yuan (58,500 – 64,110 USD). See also: Nio Opens Configurator For Third-Generation ES8 SUV Ahead Of Official Launch Photos released by Nio show ES8 vehicles in black, blue, and beige being loaded…

Arcfox, the electric vehicle (EV) unit of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), has officially launched the T1 compact SUV, entering China’s budget EV segment with one of the lowest starting prices on the market. The T1 debuted on Wednesday with a starting price of RMB 62,800 ($8,820). Arcfox is offering five variants priced between RMB 62,800 and RMB 87,800. The five-seat model measures 4,337 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width and 1,572 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,770 mm. The launch generated strong initial demand, with Arcfox reporting 26,558 firm orders within 12 hours. The T1 is…

General Motors CEO Mary Barra reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transitioning to an all-electric lineup, while acknowledging the complex trade-offs involved in the shift during a discussion at the Automotive News Congress. Barra described GM’s “agility and resiliency” in decision-making as the company navigates tariffs, manufacturing constraints, and evolving market demand. She emphasized that the ultimate objective remains to make GM an all-electric automaker, saying, “From an EV perspective, that is still our North Star.” See also: General Motors Signs Multi-Year Deal With Noveon for U.S.-Made Rare Earth Magnets The timeline for GM’s full EV transition has been fluid. The…